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July 13, 2025
 

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COMMENTARY
Mar 2, 2008
Will 'rebirth' of China level the field?
By Frank Ching
HONG KONG — At precisely eight minutes past 8 p.m. on Aug. 8 — the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 2008 — the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, this year's summer Olympics, will officially open in Beijing. It is widely seen as China's debut party after an eclipse of a couple of centuries....
EDITORIALS
Mar 2, 2008
Education reform in reverse
The education ministry has unveiled drafts of revised courses of study for elementary and middle schools. The new courses of study will become effective in fiscal 2011 for elementary schools and in fiscal 2012 for middle schools. For the first time in 30 years, the drafts call for increasing the number...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Mar 2, 2008
Will Japan's insular mindset ever be inclusive of others?
By Roger Pulvers
First of two parts
EDITORIALS
Mar 1, 2008
Return to the focus on mutual goals
During her visit to Tokyo this week, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apologized to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura for the alleged rape on Feb. 10 of a 14-year-old girl by a U.S. Marine in Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture. Considering the hurt feelings of people, especially...
EDITORIALS
Mar 1, 2008
Reforming the public servant system
The government has drawn up the draft of a bill to reform the national public servant system. While based on a proposal by a private advisory panel for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, it somewhat deviates from the proposal. Instead of creating a Cabinet agency to consolidate government personnel affairs...
COMMENTARY
Feb 29, 2008
Long road to less carbon use
By Hugh Cortazzi
LONDON — If you go to the British government's Department of the Environment Web site, you can learn how to calculate your "carbon footprint" and will be given a personalized action plan with recommendations about how you, as an individual, can help tackle climate change.
EDITORIALS
Feb 29, 2008
Inauspicious success in space
On Feb. 20 the United States destroyed an out-of-control intelligence satellite with a three-stage missile fired from an Aegis cruiser in the Pacific Ocean. For the first time, the U.S. has used a missile from its missile-defense system to destroy a satellite. In January 2007, China destroyed an old...
EDITORIALS
Feb 29, 2008
Hazy plans for new expressways
The Diet is now deliberating the government's tax code bill, which includes maintaining the provisionally raised gasoline and other road-related tax rates for 10 years from fiscal 2008. The bill has become a hot political issue.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2008
Why's Japan grown so ugly?
By Kevin Rafferty
YUNOMINE, Wakayama Pref. — My brother wanted to create a new room in the loft of his house in an English provincial city, actually Kingston upon Hull (population 250,000), a place of passing interest to Japanese because two centuries ago it was one of the world's biggest whaling ports. Today, the whales...
EDITORIALS
Feb 28, 2008
Facing the gantlet again
Saturday's arrest of Mr. Kazuyoshi Miura in Saipan, this time by Los Angeles police, in connection with the 1981 fatal shooting of his wife in the city came as a surprise to the Japanese public. Two decades ago the United States had let Japan arrest and try Mr. Miura, who eventually was acquitted by...
EDITORIALS
Feb 28, 2008
Getting the reports straight
'D isarray" is the only word to accurately describe the Defense Ministry's disclosure of information related to the collision between the 7,700-ton Aegis destroyer Atago and the 7.3-ton fishing boat Seitoku Maru at 4:07 a.m. on Feb. 19. Such confusion could harm the credibility of the ministry. The government...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 27, 2008
Khamenei key to solving Iran problem
By Medhi Khalaji
WASHINGTON — With the release of America's National Intelligence Estimate, according to which Iran has suspended its nuclear weapons program, the prospect of military confrontation with the Bush administration dimmed. But months later, it is clear that the danger is not past, because Iran has not renounced...
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
Nissan clinches $4.5 billion bond deal after orders soar
Nissan Motor has raised $4.5 billion through a junk bond sale in U.S. dollars and euros, part of which carries a record-high coupon rate.
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

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